Article: Commuters pack free public transport in southeast Queensland

[somebody]

Commuters pack free public transport in southeast Queensland

   by: Rose Brennan, Kris Crane
   From: The Courier-Mail
   February 29, 2012 10:57AM

PREMIER Anna Bligh's plan to offer free transport after yesterday's train delay disaster received mixed responses from morning peak hour commuters.

After yesterday's debacle commuters people can travel for free on all trains, buses and ferries from the first service today until the last service tonight.

But the free travel offer has resulted in overcrowding on public transport during peak hour this morning.

The Courier-Mail website was inundated with complaints about the uncomfortable situations caused by the Premiers offer.

"From Gympie North and the train I was in was packed, more than normal for the morning train," one train passenger posted.

"Couldn't even move, the buses were the same. Thanks Translink for making me miss two lectures in two days!" another commuter said.

"Train is definitely more crowded than usual."

At Central train station commuters were pleased with the free rides but didn't feel that it compensated for yesterday's inconvenience.

Commuter Thao Phan said his hour-long train ride from Richlands cost him over $8 and the free pass was 'great.'

"I didn't realise it was free until I got to the station but anything free is great," Mr Phan said.

Strathpine resident Suzanne Pollinger said the free transport was a "lovely gesture".

Yesterday her train was only four minutes late as she was travelling out of the city but her husband's inbound trip to the city had been delayed by an hour and a quarter.

'"It was a bit inconvenient but it's still cheaper for us to have one car and catch public transport because of petrol prices," Mrs Pollinger said.

At the Riverside ferry stop Carlo Nucifora and his two-year-old son Alex were taking full advantage of the free rides from their Morningside home.

"It is good the Government's giving something back," Mr Nucifora said.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/commuters-pack-free-public-transport-in-southeast-queensland/story-fnbt5t29-1226284958845

Clear proof that the fares policy is reducing patronage!

[#Metro]

Simon, all it is clear proof of economics 101.

Peak hour is already overcrowded, lower the price and lose revenue plus your infrastructure is already saturated anyway so you then need to expand peak capacity...

[somebody]

Peak is overcrowded?  By the metric of sometimes Gold Coast trains have one or more standee(s)?

[achiruel]

I believe Gold Coast trains are rarely overcrowded in the true sense of the word (i.e. can't take any more passengers).  Ipswich & Caboolture lines are a different story though.  Often packed to the hilt during peak.

[#Metro]

It's going to take more than a Gold Coast train to overturn the Law of Supply and Demand and the Price System

[somebody]

I believe Gold Coast trains are rarely overcrowded in the true sense of the word (i.e. can't take any more passengers).  Ipswich & Caboolture lines are a different story though.  Often packed to the hilt during peak.

Ipswich line is fine since the new timetable in my experience.  Standees, but not too bad.

[Fares_Fair]

5:04 pm train home from Roma Street to Nambour had around 45 standees per carriage last night, seems to be the approx. average.
Equalisation did not occur until Morayfield some 45 minutes later.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Arnz]

Was told that the ex-Gympielander had standees from Landsborough to Brisbane this morning.  Couple of people sitting in the baggage/galley area on top of those in the aisleway.

[somebody]

5:04 pm train home from Roma Street to nmabour had around 45 standees per carriage last night, seems to be the approx. average.
Equalisation did not occur until Morayfield some 45 minutes later.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

What's it usually?

[Jonas Jade]

Peak is overcrowded?  By the metric of sometimes Gold Coast trains have one or more standee(s)?

[Stillwater]

The standees in the aisles and sitting in the luggage racks on the morning Gympielander to the city appear on many days when everyone has to pay a fare, not just today when travel was free, and ma and pa got a cheap thrill without dipping into their pension money.

[SurfRail]

Peak is overcrowded?  By the metric of sometimes Gold Coast trains have one or more standee(s)?

Trust me, it is usually "more" and increasing all the time.  GC trains are more heavily occupied than I can ever remember, even before the Bombardier sets started arriving in 2007 and the subsequent timetable upgrades - which is of course a good thing.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

There is such thing as a free ride

There is such thing as a free ride
Amy Remeikis
February 29, 2012 - 3:17PM

Today's free public transport appears to have gone someway in easing the pain felt by yesterday's morning peak-hour disruption.

The state government copped the estimated $1 million loss after a now infamous clamp failure caused a powerline to sag onto a track, where it unleashed a 25,000-volt power surge.

The ensuring damage took hours to fix and prevented trains from entering the CBD.

Congestion spread to the road network as the train delays sent commuters looking for other options in getting to work.

While actual numbers could not be judged because of the lack of ticketing system, a Translink spokesman said there had been "strong passenger loads" at all major transport stations and hubs this morning.

For commuters, that translated into fuller than usual carriages and buses.

"My train is usually pretty empty, but this morning, it was a little difficult getting a seat," student Clare Hilliers said.

"Still, it was free, so I was pretty happy."

Michael Cartwright said while he could usually get a seat, today he had to stand.

"But free is free is free," he said.

"The wife said I could splurge on lunch today."

For others it was a chance to head a little further out of the city limits on the government's tab.

"I called in sick to work this morning," Josh, who declined to give his surname, said.

"I can tell you there is one reason I am headed to the Gold Coast today and that's because it is free.

"I don't want my boss to read this, but I woke up, realised it was the last day of summer, saw it was a beautiful day and then remembered that trains were free today.

"It was like a sign or something that I needed to get in an extra surf."

Rafeaella Juliana and Christine Hanke had the same idea.

"We are going to Coolangatta today, because it is free," Ms Juliana said.

"We just decided this morning to go to the coast, because it seemed like a great idea."

Ms Hanke said: "Usually, this would cost us $20 something, so we took advantage while we could."

But don't expect too many repeats.

A Translink spokesman said fare revenue netted the network $315 million in the last financial year, money which was put back into the transport system.

"Most public transport systems around the world have a subsidised, user-pays system," he said.

"This has proven to be the most sustainable public transport funding model.

"All fare revenue is reinvested into growing the network by investing in new services and infrastructure."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/there-is-such-thing-as-a-free-ride-20120229-1u2mz.html

[HappyTrainGuy]

Was told that the ex-Gympielander had standees from Landsborough to Brisbane this morning.  Couple of people sitting in the baggage/galley area on top of those in the aisleway.

Same deal with the 2.30 and 3.00 Caboolture trains from Roma Street-Strathpine today... people were even standing inbetween trains... Damn you free PT lol.

[Arnz]

I'm onboard carriage 8180 in the rear 3 cars of the 5:04pm service this Arvo.  Standee count is 30 people in this carriage and 20 in the next carriage.  Left Northgate over 13 mins ago.

Toilet check, they're working.

[somebody]

I'm onboard carriage 8180 in the rear 3 cars of the 5:04pm service this Arvo.  Standee count is 30 people in this carriage and 20 in the next carriage.  Left Northgate over 13 mins ago.

Toilet check, they're working.

And that's how you left Central?  So there's LESS people on this train?

[Arnz]

I'm onboard carriage 8180 in the rear 3 cars of the 5:04pm service this Arvo.  Standee count is 30 people in this carriage and 20 in the next carriage.  Left Northgate over 13 mins ago.

Toilet check, they're working.

And that's how you left Central?  So there's LESS people on this train?

FF might have a count of the Front 3 cars, assuming he's onboard in the lead units.  This is only my experiences with the rear 3 cars, and I usually don't catch this service (normally get the 4pm)

[O_128]

Buses were definitely busier today, CC was busier that usual.

[ozbob]

Twitter

TransLink SEQ ‏ @TransLinkSEQ

Heavy loads on buses heading north this afternoon. Please be patient, more buses are on the way.

[Arnz]

I'm onboard carriage 8180 in the rear 3 cars of the 5:04pm service this Arvo.  Standee count is 30 people in this carriage and 20 in the next carriage.  Left Northgate over 13 mins ago.

Toilet check, they're working.

And that's how you left Central?  So there's LESS people on this train?

FF might have a count of the Front 3 cars, assuming he's onboard in the lead units.  This is only my experiences with the rear 3 cars, and I usually don't catch this service (normally get the 4pm)

Sorry didn't see your earlier question.  Standees were 40-45 people in carriage 8180, with another 35-40 in the carriage next to it leaving Central.  My initial report was the standees leaving Northgate in the rear 3 cars.

Equalization occured at Petrie this evening for the 5:04pm run.  Guard also announced that we were 3 mins ahead of schedule as well.

[Fares_Fair]

I'm onboard carriage 8180 in the rear 3 cars of the 5:04pm service this Arvo.  Standee count is 30 people in this carriage and 20 in the next carriage.  Left Northgate over 13 mins ago.

Toilet check, they're working.

And that's how you left Central?  So there's LESS people on this train?

FF might have a count of the Front 3 cars, assuming he's onboard in the lead units.  This is only my experiences with the rear 3 cars, and I usually don't catch this service (normally get the 4pm)

Sorry didn't see your earlier question.  Standees were 40-45 people in carriage 8180, with another 35-40 in the carriage next to it leaving Central.  My initial report was the standees leaving Northgate in the rear 3 cars.

Equalization occured at Petrie this evening for the 5:04pm run.  Guard also announced that we were 3 mins ahead of schedule as well.

I did count the front 3 cars of the 5:04pm tonight. 45 standees in carriage 3 at Albion Station.
Front 2 carriages appeared to be slightly more crowded.
Equalisation occurred at Narangba.
Toilets were operational.

I might add that it seemd no more crowded than usual.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[SurfRail]

My Gold Coast train was the 5:30-ish one (much earlier than my usual train home), and it was not noticeably busier than I remember it.

What was remarkably busy was the Nerang Station bus interchange - I have not seen it that busy outside of special events or busier weekend loadings.  Very decent loads on the 740 which I caught over to Bundall to see John Cleese at the Arts Centre.

[somebody]

My Gold Coast train was the 5:30-ish one (much earlier than my usual train home), and it was not noticeably busier than I remember it.

What was remarkably busy was the Nerang Station bus interchange - I have not seen it that busy outside of special events or busier weekend loadings.  Very decent loads on the 740 which I caught over to Bundall to see John Cleese at the Arts Centre.

Is this the 5:25pm ex-Central?  I saw the 5:37pm ex-Central with 2 people standing through Park Rd.

[SurfRail]

My Gold Coast train was the 5:30-ish one (much earlier than my usual train home), and it was not noticeably busier than I remember it.

What was remarkably busy was the Nerang Station bus interchange - I have not seen it that busy outside of special events or busier weekend loadings.  Very decent loads on the 740 which I caught over to Bundall to see John Cleese at the Arts Centre.

Is this the 5:25pm ex-Central?  I saw the 5:37pm ex-Central with 2 people standing through Park Rd.

The busiest GC trains tend to leave town before 5pm.

[HappyTrainGuy]

My Gold Coast train was the 5:30-ish one (much earlier than my usual train home), and it was not noticeably busier than I remember it.

What was remarkably busy was the Nerang Station bus interchange - I have not seen it that busy outside of special events or busier weekend loadings.  Very decent loads on the 740 which I caught over to Bundall to see John Cleese at the Arts Centre.

Is this the 5:25pm ex-Central?  I saw the 5:37pm ex-Central with 2 people standing through Park Rd.

OMG what a disgrace! Those poor sardine conditions.

Meanwhile on the 3pm Caboolture train....


A mate said that there are usually a few people standing with plenty of spare seats and able to walk from the guards end to the drivers end without a problem but when he got off and walked along the platform the whole train still has some people standing similar to something in peak hour which was only made worse when 50 school kids got on the carriage, some of which ran up to the door saw how crowded it was and ran to the next carriage. At a few stations there were small delays (most notable was Toombul, Zillmere-Strathpine as people with prams and bikes at the front had to shuffle around at each station. In the above photo there was 4 prams in that one area alone (Was 5 already on the train at Central and one got off at Brunswick Street). The photo was taken at EJ before it got crowded with school kids/people making use of the free PT/shopping and observed from the second carriage of the six.